Can uprighting device



Feb. 27, 1945. PELLEGRlNO 2,370,188

GAN UPRIGHTING DEVICE Filed Feb. 17, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet l Feb. 27,1945. 1 pELLEGRlNO 2,370,188

GN` UPRIGHTING DEVICE Filed Feb. 17, -1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 PatentedFeb. 27, 1945 UNITED STATES PAT-ENT OFFICE CAN UPRIGHTING DEVICE.

Joseph Pellegrino, Palisade Park, N. J., assignor to American CanCompany, New York,lN. Y., a corporation of New Jersey ApplicationFebruary 17, 1944, Serial No. 522,841

(Cl. 198f33) 4 Claims.

This invention relates to devices for uprighting cans and has particularreference to a. device for receiving cans at random or in aV promiscuousmanner while being advanced by a conveyor and having means for engagingand uprighting individual cans.

The instant invention contemplates a device 'iat may be inserted betweendifferent machines in a line, as for example, in a can manufacturingline, wherein tubular cans with or without sealed ends are fed frommachines such as clinchers, seamers -or the like. These cans aredelivered rapidly onto a conveyor of the present device at random. Inthe case of a rectangular shaped can, having an open end as shown in thedrawings, such a can when received will be resting on one side wall withthe sealed end first. It is the function of this device to upright thesecans individually'by swinging each can into a vertical position andthence conveying the cans in an orderly manner with the open ends up. Inthis embodiment the same conveyor receives and delivers the cans.

An object of the invention is the ,provision of a device for receivingav random mass of cans, for uprighting the same individually and thendelivering the uprighted cans in a predetermined order.

Another object is the provision in such a de# vice of a conveyor forreceiving the cans at random in a promiscuous manner and for deliveringthe uprighted cans in an orderly manner.

Still another object is the provision in a can uprighting device of thecharacter described of a pair of rotatable members which engage anadvancing can on opposite sides and adjacent a forward end which movethe end of the can against a' stationary stop bar and then swing the caninto an upright position.

Yet another object is the provision in such an uprighting device of aconveyor for presenting the cans to the rotatable uprighting members andafter uprighting each can is moved from the stationary stop bar by thenext succeeding uprighted can after which the cans are advanced in anorderly manner by' the same conveyor.

Numerous other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparentas it is better understood from the following description, which, takenin connection with the accompanying drawings, discloses a preferredembodiment thereof.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a can uprighting device embodying thepresent invention with parts broken away and parts shown in section;

canline and which in the present instance is shown as receivingrectangular bre cans A by means of an inclined chute B.V Such cans mayhave one metal end C.

In nbre can manufacture a can A having a fibre body is passed through aclinching machine and the metal end C is secured to the vbody at thattime. Therefore where the chute B leads' from a clinching machine inysuch manufacture the sealed end is the forward or leading en d. Fromthe chute the cans fall in a promiscuous mass'onto a conveyor D.`However, the closed end remains in the lead as the cans, still advancingat random, move along toward an uprighting station E.

The conveyor D is of the continuous horizontal type and passes overrollers II, there being one such roller shown to the right in Fig. 1.This roller is the drive roller and is shown herein as mounted on across shaft I2 journaled in suitable bearings formed in vertical legsI3. These legs together with similar legs I4, located at the oppositeend of the device, support spaced substantially horizontal angle ironsI5 over which travels the upper run of the conveyor D. Side walls I6 ofthe angle irons provide side guides for the conveyor.

One end of the shaft I2 carries a chain sprocket II (Fig. 1) over whichpasses a drive chain I 8. This chain also takes over a chain drivesprocket 22 mounted on end of a motorl shaft of an electric motor 23which operates this device. The motor is mounted on a bracket 24 carriedon the legs I3 and suitable reduction means may be used as a part ofthemotor if this is found desirable to obtain4 the proper speed',l At theuprighting station E the cans are halted temporarily and theconveyorcontinues to move beneath the cans. This is preparatory to uprightingthe'ca'ns.

Inthe uprighting operation, the can first is engaged by rotatable wheelsor rollers 25 disposed at station E. These rollers are positioned abovethe conveyor D and are spaced apart a distance equal to and preferablyslightly less than the width of the cans passing through the device.Provision may be made to vary the distance between the rotatable rollersto accommodate a variety of can sizes if this is found to be desirable.

The rotatable rollers 25 preferably are made of a resilient materialsuch as rubb-er for frictionally engaging the opposite sides of a can.These wheels are operated in opposite directions and thus direct a cantherebetween and against a transverse stop bar 26 (Fig. 2). This barthus momentarily halts the forward conveyor movement of each can.

The continuous rotation of the rollers 25,

. against the sides of the can and above the line of engagement with thebar, then swings the horizontally disposed can into a vertical positionwith the end which was formerly the leading end now at the bottom. Theuprighted can rests on the bar 23. Fig. 3 of the drawings in full linesillustrates a can A being pivoted over the edge ofthe stop bar. It isduring this pivotal action that the can is lifted from the conveyor.

The bar 26 extends across the device and is secured to the side guidesI6. This bar is located above the conveyor D in the space between theconveyor and the rotatable rollers. The bar 26 has a slightly inclinedstationary platform 21 which is formed integral with the bar at alocation midway between the rotatable rollers 25 (Fig. 2).

Thus the righted can is deposited by the rotating rollers 25 onto theplatform 21, the momentum of the can carrying it forward into theposition indicated by` dot and dash lines in Fig. 3 as at F. Theuprighted can rests upon the platform until the next succeeding canpushes it forward. This action returns it onto the continuously movingconveyor D. The righted cans then are carried along in an orderly mannerby the conveyor. i

'I'he rotatable rollers 25 previously described are mounted on the lowerends of vertical shafts 28 which are carried at their upper ends insuitable bearings 32 formed in a cross frame 33. This cross frame issupported on vertical frames 34 mounted on the side members IB.

. The vertical shafts 28 are rotated from :a 5.

transverse horizontal shaft 35 journaled in suit- The shaft 35 isrotated by a belt pulley 3s mounted at one end thereof (Fig. 1). Pulley38 is operated by a belt 42 which passes around the pulley and a drivepulley 43 mounted on the motor shaft adjacent the sprocket 22. In thismanner the electric motor 23 operates the rotatable rollers 25 in timewith the travel of the conveyor.

It is thought that the invention and many of its attendant advantageswill be understood from the foregoing description, and it will beapparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction andarrangement of 'the parts without Adeparting from the spirit and scopeof the invention or sacrificing all of its materia1 advantages, the formhereinbefore described being merely a preferred embodiment thereof. f

' the uprighted cans in a predetermined order, the

combination of means for advancing a. promiscuous mass of cans in asubstantially horizontal plane, spaced movable means located above saidadvancing means for receiving a single can therebetween and for movingthe can independently of said advancing means, and stop means extendingacross the space between and beneath said movable means forengagment'with the forward end of the can as the latter is being movedby said movable means to hold the can while said movable means acting onopposite sides of the can above said stop means turn the can into anupright position.

2. In a can uprighting device for receiving cans in a promiscuous massand for delivering the cans in an uprighted predetermined order,

the combination of a conveyor for initially ad vancing a mass of cans atrandom and for subsequently advancing orderly uprighted cans, spaceduprighting rollers located above said conveyor for receiving a singlecan therebetween and for moving the can independently of said conveyor,and a stop bar extending across the space between and beneath saidrollers for engagement with the forward end of the can as it is beingmoved by said rollers to hold the same while the rollers acting onopposite sides of the can above said stop bar turn the can into anupright position.

3. In a can uprighting device for receiving cans in a promiscuous massand for delivering the cans in an uprighted predetermined order, thecombination of a conveyor for advancing a promiscuous mass of cans in asubstantially horizontal plane with a predetermined end forward, spaceduprighting rollers located above said conveyor and operating in oppositedirections for receiving a single can therebetween and for moving thecan independently of said j conveyor, actuating means for rotating saidrollers in time with said conveyor, and a stop bar extending across thespace between and beneath said rollers for arresting advancement of thepart of the can in contact with said bar while the rollers engaging thecan Wall from opposite sides adjacent its forward end uniformly pivotthe can about said stop bar and bring the can into an upright position.

4. In a can uprighting device for receiving cans in a promiscuous massand for delivering the cans in an uprighted predetermined order. thecombination of a conveyor for initially advancing the cans at random andsubsequently in an uprighted orderly manner along a substantiallyhorizontal plane, spaced uprighting rollers located above said conveyorfor receiving a single can therebetween and for moving the canindependently of said conveyor, a stop bar extending across the spacebetween and beneath said rollers for engagementv with and for liftingthe forward end of the can free of said conveyor as the can isbeingmoved by said rollers to pivot it about said stop bar and to turnit into an upright position, and a platform at the bar for retaining theuprighted can until the next oncoming can returns the righted can ontosaid conveyor.

JOSEPH PELLEGRINO.

